Owais Shah kidnapping expose Police negligence, lack of coordination

The report revealed that there was no proper channels of communication even between police officers within the same district. The inquiry committee has proposed action to be taken against 24 policeman including nine officers.

The Police helpline had received a call lasting 107 seconds informing them about the kidnapping, which refutes an earlier claim by police officers that they had received no such complaint. The action taken afterwards exposed the negligence and inefficiency of the police officials, who were not even informed about the complaint made on the helpline.

The report said that a citizen had alerted the SHO Clifton at 4 o’clock about the kidnapping. It was reported to the SSP at 7 o’clock and the Superintendent Police at 9:30 PM.

A full bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Khilji Arif Hussain was hearing the case of law and order situation in Karachi.

The Supreme Court was incensed by the casual attitude and alleged inefficiency of SSP Dr Muhammad Farooq who was grilled over the kidnapping of Owais Shah.

“We believe this officer had facilitated the offence”, remarked the apex Court. It said that Farooq had demonstrated criminal negligence despite receiving information about the kidnapping well in time and took no concrete steps to arrest the culprits, conduct any inquiries or even inform his higher-ups without any plausible explanation.

The apex court ordered that Farooq to be immediately relieved of his post and replaced by Saqib Ismail. He had been suspended two days after the kidnapping of Owais Shah took place in his jurisdiction, and was transferred as SSP East Karachi.

However, he was restored to his previous post after interference by a prominent political party. The apex was fumed at the decision and had taken a suo moto notice. The court questioned on what grounds was he still on duty, and was informed in a letter received from IG Sindh that Farooq had been removed from his post.

Owais Shah was kidnapped by unidentified gunman from supermarket in a upscale Karachi neighborhood on 20th June. The law enforcement agencies and officials have been unable to make any progress to trace him ever since.